Monday, July 29, 2013
YSU senior offensive lineman Chris Elkins was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference's preseason all-league team the conference announced on Monday. In the MVFC standings, YSU was picked fifth.
Besides Elkins, senior quarterback Kurt Hess was named an honorable-mention candidate. Hess was an honorable-mention all-league pick in 2012 after earning first-team honors in 2011.
The Penguins were picked to finish fifth in the league standings. Each of the past two years YSU has been .500 in conference play going 4-4 each year. The Guins tied for sixth last year after being picked third in the preseason poll.
Two-time defending FCS Champion North Dakota State was a unanamious choice to win the league crown. The Bison had an impressive 10 players named first-team all-conference.
South Dakota State was tabbed second, UNI third, Illinois State fourth, YSU fifth, Indiana State sixth, Southern Illinois seventh, Missouri State eighth, Western Illinois ninth and South Dakota 10th.
YSU plays North Dakota State (Nov. 16), South Dakota State (Nov. 23), Illinois State (Oct. 12) and Western Illinois (Oct. 19) at home. So three of the top four preseason picks will visit Stambaugh Stadium. The Penguins visit UNI (Nov. 9), Southern Illinois (Sept. 28), Indiana State (Oct. 5) and South Dakota (Nov. 2).
2013 Valley Football Preseason Poll
Team (first-place votes) Points
North Dakota State (39) 390
South Dakota State 323
UNI 269
Illinois State 264
Youngstown State 253
Indiana State 197
Southern Illinois 188
Missouri State 123
Western Illinois 77
South Dakota 61